Near Field Communications World

Top handset manufacturers begin sampling NXP’s PN544 NFC chip

By Sarah Clark | NearFieldCommunicationsWorld.com | June 2nd, 2009

NOW SAMPLING: NXP's PN544 complies with the SWP and HCI specifications

NXP has launched the PN544 chip, the first NFC controller to comply with the Single Wire Protocol (SWP) and Host Controller Interface (HCI) specifications. The PN544 is also fully compatible with existing contactless payments terminals and with Mifare-based transport ticketing systems.

As well as applications where the subscriber's SIM acts as the secure element in a handset, as favoured by the mobile operators, the PN544 can also support applications where an SD card hosts the secure element or where the secure element is embedded in the handset.

The PN544 is currently being sampled by a number of major handset manufacturers, says NXP. "Mass availability of the product is targeted during Q3 of 2009 — at the same time the first commercial NFC-enabled handsets are expected to be launched."